My dear brothers and sisters:

Lent is a time of grace that the Church offers us to prepare our hearts and renew our faith as we journey toward Easter. With the humble sign of ashes, we begin this spiritual path that invites us to pause, reflect, and turn our gaze back to God, recognizing our fragility and our need for His merciful love.

Throughout these forty days, we are called to sincere conversion, not only outward but above all inward. Lent proposes three concrete paths for this spiritual growth: prayer, which strengthens our relationship with God; fasting, which helps us reorder our hearts; and charity, which opens us to a spirit of solidarity with our brothers and sisters, especially those who suffer the most.

This liturgical season is also an opportunity for reconciliation—with God, with others, and with ourselves. Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation and through daily gestures of forgiveness and service, we allow the Lord to transform our lives and renew our hope, making us witnesses of His love in the world.

As a parish community, let us walk together through this season of Lent with faith and commitment. May this time help us live more simply, listen more attentively to the Word of God, and prepare with joy to celebrate Christ’s victory over death at Easter. May the Lord accompany us and grant us a renewed heart.

May God bless you.
Rev. Julio Fernandez